A Cinderella for the Duke

by Abby Ayles

  * * *

  “Oh yes, of course,” Lady Louisa now having a name to the face she remembered him well.

  * * *

  He had dined with her family on two separate occasions while her brother prepared for his journeys to America.

  * * *

  “I never imagined meeting you here,” he said with a jolly laugh.

  * * *

  “Nor I you,” Lady Louisa agreed. “I am here visiting with my mother’s sister.”

  * * *

  “Ah yes, Lady Hendrickson. No relation to me I’m afraid,” he added with a wink and a twitch of his nose. “Though I did know her late husband well.”

  * * *

  “You did?” Lady Louisa said surprised.

  * * *

  “Ah, yes,” Mr. Henderson said leaning back on his haunches. “Come and let us have some luncheon together, and I will tell you all about it.”

  * * *

  Louisa had to agree she was beginning to feel quite hungry after the long walk and days efforts. She couldn’t imagine a better companion either than this jolly gentleman who just might shed a little more light on her aunt’s situation.

  * * *

  “I would appreciate that very much,” Lady Louisa agreed, coming from behind the stall and taking the solicitor’s arm.

  * * *

  They walked a short distance down the lane and arrived at a rather quaint looking tavern. Inside it was just as simple and small as it looked from the outside. Mr. Henderson explained that it was the only establishment without a bar present thereby making it the only appropriate one. He assured her the tea was always fresh and the biscuits and iced rolls that accompanied it came from a fine bakery next door.

  * * *

  “Have you known my aunt and her family long?” Lady Louisa asked after they were both comfortably seated at a wooden table next to the still cool hearth. Their seats did, however, have the only view out the sole window. Lady Louisa was thankful for the rays of light it brought in and warmed her with.

  * * *

  “I grew up here same as Billy,” Mr. Henderson said.

  * * *

  “Billy?”

  * * *

  “Oh, Mr. Hendrickson. In fact, I knew your mother and aunt as well, since they didn’t live too far off from this place. In fact, both regularly came to the village on Market Day to see the wares. I think it was also to do a little socializing with us regular folk as well.”

  * * *

  “I had no idea,” Lady Louisa said leaning forward enthralled with his tale. “I knew my father’s country seat is not far off, but since I myself never spent much time in the country, I had no knowledge of my mother’s childhood in this area.”

  * * *

  “Oh yes. She was a wonderful lady. My parents own some fields on her father’s land. When I showed great marks in school, your grandfather paid for my further education. He was a wonderful man.”

  * * *

  “I unfortunately never met my grandfather, though my mother spoke of him often.”

  * * *

  “Yes, he was a good man. Though,” he added with a shade coming over his face, “I suspect Lady Hendrickson doesn’t share that sentiment.”

  * * *

  “Yes,” Lady Louisa said, a little embarrassed for her aunt that this man seemed to know her business. “I know she didn’t feel she was justly treated upon his death.”

  * * *

  The man shrugged as if this was common knowledge. Lady Louisa thought back to her morning in the market and then suspected it, in fact, was common knowledge.

  * * *

  “But she married for love, and there must be solace in that happiness,” Lady Louisa said always looking for the silver lining.

  * * *

  “Perhaps,” Mr. Henderson said, and Lady Louisa guessed he knew how unhappy the relationship turned over time.

  * * *

  “If you wouldn’t mind,” Lady Louisa shifted the topic, “I wonder if you could tell me some of my late uncle. I never had a chance to meet him myself, you see. Miss Mary has shared some things, but I fear it is still fresh and painful for the whole household.”

  * * *

  “He was a good friend of mine growing up,” Mr. Henderson said happy to talk about past memories. “We went to grammar school together. I can’t say he was as good as me,” he added with another teasing wink, “but he was sufficient for his needs.”

  * * *

  “He was, however, a dashingly handsome man,” the solicitor continued. “All the girls had their eyes on him. It was no surprise that your aunt gravitated to him time and time again. Not only when their father would allow them to market, but also every Sunday after the parish service.”

  * * *

  “I honestly can’t say I was surprised to hear they eloped. Everyone knew she was promised to the Earl and that she had eyes for Billy,” he continued as he thought back on the memories.

  * * *

  “I suppose we all thought it a win for love and all that.” “But it wasn’t?” Lady Louisa asked.

  * * *

  “Well, I think at first they were very happy. Even when your mother and father married it made no matter to your aunt for she had her own happiness. I think over time, however, the magic of new love wears off and your aunt missed the life she had once been accustomed to.”

  * * *

  “I only knew about your grandfather’s decision to remove her from his will because your mother had been kind enough to recommend me as solicitor to your father. It was a very ironic situation.”

  * * *

  “In what way?” Lady Louisa asked.

  * * *

  “Well your aunt married for love and happiness, and in the end, I dare say she didn’t have much of either. Your parents on the other hand, from the outside at least, married for family connections. I don’t know that I ever saw a couple more in love or happier with each other all the way to the end.”

  * * *

  Lady Louisa smiled with glistening tears as she too thought of the happy memories she shared with her parents. They really had loved each other dearly. Her father had been such a happy man and always seemed to light every room he entered with his teasing mannerism.

  * * *

  “There is no use dwelling on the past, though,” he said with a wipe of his handkerchief to his nose. “Tell me how your brother is finding America.”

  * * *

  Lady Louisa quickly brushed her own tears away and relaxed into a smile at the change of conversation.

  * * *

  “As well as can be. We have only received three letters as of yet. Perhaps Mother has received another one since my departure from London. They are both doing very well. The baby was a healthy boy. They only wait now for the child to grow in age a bit more before they can bring him across the sea.”

  * * *

  “How wonderful,” Mr. Henderson agreed. “I had heard some news in a letter from the earl that they planned to extend their stay due to his wife’s condition. I am glad it worked out well. I won't be surprised if they decide to stay there forever. Virginia is a beautiful country.”

  * * *

  “You really think they might?” Lady Louisa said shocked as the idea came to her for the first time since their departure.

  * * *

  It was true that when Colton had first told of his plans to journey to the property in the Americas Lady Louisa thought her brother might leave and never return this time. After he acquired his beautiful bride before he left, Lady Louisa did not doubt that at least Abigail would have the desire to return.

  * * *

  But now that she thought the matter over truly, she considered Abigail’s own free spirit. Perhaps the two of them would love the new land so much they would have no desire to leave. Would she never set eyes on her dear brother or his family again?

  * * *

  “I don’t see why they wouldn’t,” Mr. Henderson said. “It is a fine estate. You must
go and visit them some time. Had I not gotten so old so quickly, I would have tried to make a last go of it and stay permanently myself.”

  * * *

  “What an interesting idea,” Lady Louisa said politely while she inwardly felt herself twist in turmoil.

  Chapter 8

  Lady Louisa thought on the solicitor's words as she walked quietly back down the path with Bess and towards home. She couldn’t help but feel a deep rock in the pit of her stomach.

  * * *

  Of course, she knew her brother would marry one day, start a family of his own, and in essence have a life of his own. She had never thought to be so separated from him by a whole ocean. She had been so close to him as children and up until his time in the regulars.

  * * *

  She had wished so dearly for that relationship to restart after his return. When Colton struggled so with readjusting into society with his injuries, she feared she had lost him altogether.

  * * *

  A new-found hope had grown with his love for Abigail. With her, Colton was able to be a bit of himself again. Lady Louisa had seen the change over their time spent together. She was sure she would again have that close friend and brother she had grown with.

  * * *

  Now they were gone and quite possibly permanently. It made Lady Louisa feel so utterly alone in the world. A part of her always knew something like this would happen. First, it was her best friend Isabella. Now it seemed that Colton was out of her life too.

  * * *

  Though Lady Louisa and Isabella still wrote and kept in touch, things were different now. After all, she had a growing family to take care of.

  * * *

  Now her brother had gone so far away from her that even written correspondence wasn’t a very reliable tool.

  * * *

  She had accepted the fact that she was not the one to find a match of her own. She didn’t have the looks nor personality to stand out in the eyes of any suitor of the ton. She had never minded that believing that she would always have her family around her.

  * * *

  That no longer seemed as sure a possibility as she once thought. What would she do if she found herself without family? Naturally, her mother wouldn’t be around forever. Isabella would be happy to take her in, but would she ask that burden of a friend.

  * * *

  Life seemed to be getting increasingly dreary with every step she took. So lost in her thoughts, Lady Louisa didn’t hear the sound of a carriage coming. It was only when Bess grabbed her arm and yanked her to the side that she was awakened from her thoughts.

  * * *

  A basket gig with single rider was coming down the lane. Lady Louisa looked up in time to see the rider, and her heart fell even farther. It was clear he was also coming to a stop.

  * * *

  “We have to stop meeting like this, Miss Bess,” the Duke said parking his gig on the side of the road and coming down to greet the two ladies.

  * * *

  First Bess, at Lady Louisa’s side, looked very confused having never met the man in the first place, let alone along a roadside. Luckily Lady Louisa had the sense to intercede before anything could be done on the matter.

  * * *

  “Your Grace, I must confess that last week when we met on the road I was a bit frazzled and may not have given you accurate information,” Lady Louisa said doing her best to hide her embarrassment over the fact.

  * * *

  “I’m not sure I understand,” the Duke said with a furrow of his black brows as he looked between the two ladies. “Well, it’s very hard to explain,” Lady Louisa said with a nervous laugh. “I was just so flustered; I might not have actually given you my name. I am visiting my aunt, but when you made assumptions about my status I didn’t want to be rude and correct them, so I gave you my lady’s maid’s Christian name,” Lady Louisa did her best to explain as she motioned over to Bess next to her.

  * * *

  He looked between the two for the briefest of moments. Lady Louisa would have rather buried herself in the ground right there at the edge of the road than to half to explain her silly action to the man.

  * * *

  “That does make some sense then,” he finally said rubbing his hand along his chin as he thought it over.

  * * *

  Lady Louisa looked up at him in utter surprise at his words. She was caught in the deep green of his eyes.

  * * *

  “When I came to call on Lady Hendrickson she mentioned a niece visiting. I couldn’t believe that both the lady of the house and one of the household could have a visiting relative all at the same time.”

  * * *

  “You must beg my pardon, Your Grace,” Lady Louisa said. “I didn’t mean to confuse you. I was just startled at our last meeting."

  * * *

  “Well, it is as much my fault as yours. In fact, you must allow me to beg your pardon again for last we met on this road. It was a rakish thing for me to do, running you out of the lane.”

  * * *

  “Perhaps I might make it up to you by offering you and Miss Bess,” he said motioning to Lady Louisa’s company, “a ride for the remainder trip home.”

  * * *

  “That is very kind, Your Grace. Normally I would respectfully decline, but since we are coming on late in the day, it might be nice to hurry our way home.”

  * * *

  Both ladies climbed into the back of the basket and seated themselves while the Duke took his place at the reins again. It was a small gig and scarcely enough room for the three to avoid touching each other in such close quarters.

  * * *

  The Duke was sure, however, to make the ride slow and smooth as possible on a dirt road. While they started their journey, Lady Louisa wondered how her aunt and cousin would feel with her arrival in the Duke’s gig. It was not what they would want, and went against her promise to help them.

  * * *

  On the other hand, the man had considered her a servant at the first. Plainly her cousin would see no threat in her. If anything, Lady Louisa could use the opportunity to gain stronger ties between the Duke and Mentheith House thereby increasing her cousin’s chances.

  * * *

  “My aunt told me that you have spent many years abroad?” Lady Louisa asked.

  * * *

  “Yes,” he responded as he kept his hands steady on the reins. “For the most part, I was in the Indies.”

  * * *

  “It must have been very exotic,” Lady Louisa commented as she studied his still bronzed stature.

  * * *

  “I have to say I did enjoy it greatly. I rather thought of it as home. I’ve only returned on insistence from my Uncle. I dare say he didn’t love the land as much as I did and was insistent we both return.”

  * * *

  “How very unfortunate for you, though. Do you plan to return to the Indies?”

  * * *

  “I suppose it would all depend?”

  * * *

  “Depend on what, Your Grace?” Lady Louisa asked not understanding.

  * * *

  “Well, surely you know why my uncle convinced me to return. I suspect the whole county has talked over the matter. I am in want of a wife apparently. I would assume it is because my own parents were only five years past my current age when they departed this world. It has caused my uncle to pressure me into producing an heir.”

  * * *

  “Oh, I see.” Lady Louisa said trying not to blush at the intimate conversation. Though if the whole county knew this fact perhaps it wasn’t that intimate at all.

  * * *

  “So, it will depend on my wife and her willingness to travel to the Indies or be left behind I suppose.”

  * * *

  “You don’t seem too happy about it, Your Grace. Though I am not an expert on the matter, only knowing what I have seen of the season in London, most find their years of courtship and searching for a match very exciting.”
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